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Posts Tagged ‘Bird Control Products’

Bird Control

When birds land, roost and nest on your property they create a hazardous, unsightly and costly mess. Here are three reasons why bird control is a great investment and a few products that can be used to solve your bird control problem.

Transmittable Disease
Bird droppings carry any of 60 transmittable diseases that are easy for humans to contract. Nesting materials are just as infectious as bird droppings as they have bugs, mites and remnants of bird droppings.

Cost of Clean Up
Eliminate costly clean up created by pest birds’ messy lifestyle. Depending on how long birds have been nesting in an area, there could be thousands of dollars in damage and clean up. Bird droppings contain acidic substances that can stain or corrode certain building materials if left unattended.

Slip & Fall Risk
Bird droppings are messy and slippery. If bird droppings are on walkways or entryways, there is the risk of someone slipping and falling, which could result in injury and a lawsuit if it’s on at a business or on public property.

Bird Control Products
Bird Spikes are used to prevent large birds, like pigeons, crows and gulls, from landing or perching on unwanted areas. They will not harm birds. Bird spikes simply create an uneven surface making it impossible for large birds to land. The spike strips come in two foot sections and a variety of widths to cover the area width in need of protection. The base of the spike is 1.5” and has predrilled holes for quick and easy installation. The spikes are easy to install by gluing, screwing or tying them down. Bird spikes come in stainless steel with a polycarbonate base or polycarbonate. The plastic is

Bird Netting is a full exclusion bird control product. Heavy duty bird netting creates a physical barrier to prevent birds from landing or nesting. It is the most efficient and effective method for excluding birds to ensure they cannot access an area to build or rebuild their nests. This product is effective for all bird species. Use a U.V. stabilized polyethylene mesh bird net that is sun and weather resistant and rot proof. Depending on the pest bird, there are different mesh sizes available: ¾” 1 1/8” and 2”.

Bird Jolt Flat Track is a low profile, electrical track system that produces a mild electrical shock when birds land on its surface. The shock will not harm birds, but will condition them to stay away from the area, making Bird Jolt Flat Track the ultimate in bird behavior modification. Bird Jolt Flat Track is the only electric track bird deterrent system with patented anti-arcing and glue trough designs and is the safest most effective electric track available. It is also available in six colors: clear, black, grey, stone, terra cotta, and red.

The choice to invest in bird control can save you time, money and potentially hazardous situations.

Bird Deterrents

Throughout the world, regardless of the crop, farmers routinely lose parts of their harvest to birds. Without some effective bird control measures, birds will peck away at fruits and vegetables grown in concentrated areas simply because they provide a quick and easy meal. Food storage areas such as barns and granaries also attract birds, causing loss and damage. Here are two of today’s most effective pest bird deterrents the pros recommend.

Solar Bird Chase Super Sonic

Ideal for farmers and growers, Solar Bird Chase Super Sonic devices broadcast bird predator and distress calls over wide fields. Birds hear the sounds and instinctively avoid the area. The highly versatile solar sonic bird deterrent can broadcast distress and predator calls for 22 species of birds. Unlike ultrasonic devices, which birds can’t hear, the Solar Bird Chase Super Sonic is well within a bird’s hearing range. The device is built of rugged weather resistant materials. It is powered by solar energy and has a built in sensor to turn the device off at night, conserving energy. The built-in speaker covers an acre.

Bird Netting

Perfect for keeping birds from your grapes and vines, Garden Bird Netting is a lightweight mesh used by many growers. The netting is quality made from a durable, UV-protected polypropylene. It’s strong, lightweight, virtually invisible, and designed for temporary use. It’s available in two roll sizes: 14′ x 100′ and 14′ x 200′ and can be easily cut to the needed size. You can also choose from three different “mesh” sizes–1/4″ mesh, 1/2″ mesh and 3/4″ mesh. To simplify installation, you should invest in some garden bird netting clips.

Bird Net 2000™ is a physical bird deterrent that blocks birds from accessing an area. This heavy duty polyethylene bird netting will block birds from entering your warehouse, barn, and other feed storage areas. It’s made from a UV-stabilized mesh and comes in various stock sizes and custom cuts. Choose from three different mesh sizes, depending on the bird you want to exclude–2” mesh and 1-1/8” mesh for medium-to-large birds; and 3/4” mesh for smaller birds. Bird Net 2000 comes with a 10-year guarantee.

For installation information, visit our authorized installer page on our website to learn more about installers in your area.

Bird Control Training

Bird-B-Gone Inc.’s Bird-B-Gone University was recently audited for review and approval by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR). Bird-B-Gone received excellent remarks from the DPR as a four hour Continuing Education (CE) credit in Bird Control training.

Bird-B-Gone University, a bird control training course offered by Bird-B-Gone, was recently audited by the Department of Pesticide Regulation. The course covers many things commercial bird control installers need to know. The course qualifies as a continuing education course through the DPR. Bird-B-Gone provides this free training at their facilities in Santa Ana, CA at least every other month.

Mike Dougherty, a bird control engineer at Bird-B-Gone, was well received as the presenter of this course. “Mr. Dougherty was very knowledgeable in the subject matter and provided useful pesticide and pest management information,” says Lisa Estridge, Environmental Scientist with the DPR. “He presented bird management from an IPM perspective and encouraged attendees to use a variety of bird control methods, such as exclusion, sanitation and mechanical tools. His presentation included a PowerPoint presentation, photographs, sample products and anecdotes that made the course more relatable to the attendees.”

Bird-B-Gone University is designed to ensure pest control operators are equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to properly install Bird-B-Gone bird control products. “All questions from the attendees were answered quickly and accurately. In addition, the course materials and comfortable facility, along with the announcement at the beginning of the course to silence cell phones, created an environment conducive to learning. Overall, the course was informative and well received by the attendees,” says Estridge.

Birds landing in unwanted areas create a problem for commercial building owners and property managers. To keep birds from landing on ledges, windowsills, signs and other areas where birds are not wanted, apply Bird-Off Gel to target locations.

Bird-Off Gel is the first bio repellent gel. It is used to prevent pigeons and other large birds from roosting and congregating in unwanted areas. Unlike other bird repellent gels which are made from polybutene, Bird-Off Gel is an oil base bird repellent gel. The ingredients are nontoxic and will not harm the bird. When birds come in contact with Bird-Off Gel, they are still able walk and fly; they will not be trapped on the treated surface. The gel simply creates an unpleasant sticky feeling causing birds to move to a more comfortable roosting location.

Application is very easy! Simply use a caulking gun to apply the gel on the appropriate treatment area. The gel is available in tubes or in five gallon pails to fit any size job.

When it comes to bird control, anyone can determine whether or not a bird problem exists, but that doesn’t get you too far unless you are a certified bird control expert. Without understanding and being able to identify the details of bird problems, it could be anyone’s guess as to what the real issues is and what it will take to resolve the problem.

Being properly trained is a key component to becoming a certified bird control expert. Being trained as a bird control expert equips you with the tools to assess a situation, analyze the bird species and behavior, ask the right questions, recommend a solution(s) and implement the solution. If you are evaluating a bird control problem with no expertise, you might find that while you can identify certain aspects of the problem, the whole picture isn’t always revealed unless you have been trained to look for certain details and to ask specific questions. One of the most common errors to stem from lack of training is recommending the wrong product or solution.

Know What to Look For & Ask the Right Questions:

Being properly trained allows you to identify and analyze every aspect of the situation, starting with asking the right questions.
1. What type of bird? Identifying the species of bird is paramount in determining a solution. Different bird species have different behavior patterns so it’s important to understand the type bird you are dealing with. Additionally, not all bird control products are effective in deterring all bird species.
2. Where are they? Knowing where the birds are located on the premises is another key component to providing a solution. Birds on a roof are a different problem from birds gathering around an entryway. Certain products that are recommended for roofs and ledges would not be applicable to the walkway outside a building or office.
3. What are they doing? Bird behavior on the premises is just as important as knowing where they are located. If a bird is nesting, a completely different course of action may be taken than if the birds are landing or roosting.
4. How many? The last major question to ask customers is how many birds there are. A few birds could be cause for a single product whereas dozens of birds might require multiple products.

Often times the customer will not know all the answers so doing a site evaluation is best when possible.

Recommending A Solution:

Depending on the Q/A session or site evaluation, a single product may be suggested or an integrated solution may be implemented.

Recommending a product or solution isn’t dependent only on the size of the bird; it is also based on behavior of the bird. If birds are nesting, full exclusivity is required to keep the birds entirely away from the nesting area. In this case bird netting or bird slope would be recommended to prevent birds from accessing the area. When birds are landing and roosting, however, other bird deterrents can be used: bird spikes, bird gel, bird jolt flat track and bird wire.

Eaves and open spaces like barns, beams, overhangs and other areas in or on structures are great for birds to a build nest. Certain species, like Barn Swallows, will come back to the same place year after year to nest; therefore, if they nested on your property in previous years, there is a good chance they will be back. It is best to deter birds before they arrive.

Whether using preventative methods or treating a current bird problem, plastic bird netting is best for 100% exclusivity. Plastic bird netting keeps birds away from treated areas by creating a physical barrier between the structure and the birds. Plastic bird netting is a lightweight mesh net used to keep birds from nesting in unwanted areas. It is a very low cost solution to humanely get rid of birds.

Plastic bird netting is made of U.V. protected polypropylene. It comes in a variety of mesh sizes: ¾”, ½” and ¼”. It is also available in several cut sizes to fit different size treatment areas. Ultra net is a lightweight plastic mesh that is meant for temporary use.

To install netting to keep birds out of eaves or open spaces, the ultra-net clips can be used. Otherwise a staple gun can be used to secure the netting around the perimeter. When the birds realize they cannot access the area, they will move on to another location. Once the birds are gone you can remove the netting.

Unhappy tenants create unhappy property managers. As a property manager it is your responsibility to upkeep the property so the tenants are happy and for the longevity of the property. When birds are sitting, pooping and nesting on roofs, canopies, window seals, balconies, in trees and other areas, it creates a mess that visually unappealing and damaging in some cases. It also poses health risks for your tenants and employees and legal risks for property owners.

Bird Control is necessary for property managers. Depending on the type bird you are dealing with and where they are located on the property, there are several solution possibilities to keep birds away. Bird Jolt Flat Track™, Bird Spikes and Bird Slope™ are a few options for property managers when it comes to getting rid of birds and maintaining your property.

Bird Jolt Flat Track is a low profile electrical track system that gives off a slight shock when birds land on the surface of the strip. The shock will not harm the birds; it will condition them to stay away from the treated area. Flat Track is now available in several colors: clear, black, gray, stone, Terra Cotta and red.

Bird spikes are a physical bird deterrent used to prevent larger birds, like seagulls and pigeons, from landing and nesting. The spikes will not harm the birds or humans. The spikes simply create an uneven surface making it impossible for the birds to land in a particular area. Bird Spikes come in a stainless steel or plastic. Depending on the width of the ledge, roofline or problem area, you can choose 3”, 5” or 8” stainless steel spikes and 3”, 5” or 7” plastic spikes.

Bird Slope keeps birds of all types and sizes from perching and roosting on ledges, beams, eaves and other 90° angle areas. Slope extenders are available for ledges up to 10” wide and end caps ensure birds don’t find their way behind the slope.

Birds that gather in large flocks are more difficult to manage than a few pest birds landing and nesting on your property. There are many methods to deter birds but when you have a large group the situation can become overwhelming. At this point you should consider flock reduction. The best way to reduce a flock is by utilizing professional trap and release methods. While bird spike, electrical track systems or netting, will deter birds and keep them from nesting and roosting in treated areas, but then you will most likely be dealing with a large group of displaced homing birds.

The Super Talon Ultra Net Launcher is a humane method of trapping the birds in order to release them in a more appropriate environment. The net launcher uses compressed air cartridges to launch a weighted net up to 60 feet. The two inch mesh used with the net launcher can be used to trap any size bird. It comes complete with a carrying case and all necessary components and it can be re-used over and over.

Consider using trapping methods to get rid of birds on your property. There are professional services that will perform the actual trap and release of birds for you. Give us a call and we will help you choose the right trapping device and connect you with a professional trapper in your area.

With their open courtyards, outdoor eating tables and overflowing garbage cans, schools can draw pigeons by the hundreds, especially during bird season. Without effective pigeon control measures to deter them, pigeons can deface school property and leave mounds of disease-carrying droppings. These droppings—which can carry salmonella and e-coli—will cover benches, tables, playground equipment, even doorknobs. Wet pigeon droppings are very slippery and leave dangerous slip-and-fall hazards.

Pigeon poisons are dangerous to use around children. And just frightening the birds away with loud noises or water hoses are ineffective. What’s needed are professional-level pigeon control devices. Here are some proven-effective pigeon deterrents recommended by bird control experts:

Deny them a Place to Perch with Bird Spikes

Pigeons love to perch on rooflines, parapet walls and most any elevated area around a school. Bird Spikes deny them the opportunity by making it impossible for them to land. The bird spikes most often preferred by government entities are made of stainless steel with the spikes embedded in a UV-protected polycarbonate base. These have a 10-year guarantee and come in 1”, 3”, 5” and 8” widths to cover wider and wider areas. The spikes have a 1.5” base, which allows them to be glued, screwed, or tied down to narrow landings. The best, high quality bird spikes have been approved by several humane groups around the world–including the US Humane Society and PICAS (Pigeon Control Advisory Service).

Whisk them Off with the Repeller 360°

Ideal for use on rooftops and other flat, elevated areas where pigeons tend to flock, the Repeller 360° is entirely wind powered. The device’s large arms rotate continuously to discourage pigeons from landing. The arms cover a 6-foot diameter area. The end of each arm is covered with a large reflective “predator eye” to intimidate the most determined pigeon. For lasting durability, the stainless steel arms are attached to a UV-protected polycarbonate base. The Repeller 360° assembles easily and can be attached with a variety of available bases.

Bird Wire Systems Keep Pigeons Away

Birds like a nice steady landing perch. Pigeons are no exception. Which is why Bird Wire Systems are so effective in denying them a place to perch. These post-and-spring-wire set-ups are easily installed along any roofline, elevated railing or parapet wall. Post Wire Systems are often used by Federal and State government buildings. As with all bird control devices, it pays to go for quality. The best bird wire systems feature nylon coated stainless steel wire for lasting durability, rain or shine.

Pigeons Fear to Tread on Bird Gels

Pigeons don’t like walking on a sticky surface. One or two steps on Bird Gel and off they go. Bird Gels are easy to applied using the standard caulking guns your maintenance people already have. The chemical stays sticky for six months.

The company makes it their mission to stay on top of the latest advancements in the bird control industry incorporating new technologies with tried and true methods to develop the most effective bird deterrents available.(more…)

If you’re a Facilities or Maintenance Manager, you need to keep your industrial facility clean and your repair and maintenance costs to a minimum. If you have pest bird problems, they can pose a challenge—unless you implement some effective bird control measures. Pest birds can become a costly nuisance, both inside and outside various types of industrial structures. From slippery loading docks to jammed up skylights on manufacturing roofs, pest birds can cause you all sorts of grief.

As a Facilities Manager, the buck stops with you when it comes to getting rid of pest birds. Adopting an effective bird deterrent strategy can save your maintenance crews from doing constant cleanups and repairs on expensive AC units, rooftop ventillators and other equipment in and around your facility.(more…)

Bird-B-Gone supplies the commercial, industrial and residential market with effective, humane bird deterrents manufactured in the USA. Beyond offering high quality products with industry leading guarantees, the company prides itself on the level of customer service, support and free training provided to customers.

The new, improved website will be a helpful resource to pest control and wildlife professionals or anyone looking to deter birds from their property. The site offers specific information for nearly every industry affected by pest birds. (more…)

Courtesy of a Mission Royale resident, Pigeons leave quite a mess on the roofs of some Mission Royale homes last month in Casa Grande.

Written By: Melissa St. Aude

When Lyle Roorda bought his home in the Mission Royale community in 2006, he did not anticipate sharing his house with dozens of pigeons.But despite Roorda’s best efforts to eradicate them, the pigeons continue to nest on his roof. At last count, he had at least 30 or 40 pigeons living on top of his house and the mess they create — feathers and droppings as well as the maggots and other insects that live and breed in the bird debris — has become intolerable and a health hazard, he said.

Recent studies have shown that every year, thousands of protected migratory birds die in tailing or detention ponds used for industrial waste or filtering. Birds mistake these ponds for fresh water and often become poisoned by toxins present in the water.

Pond Netting is used as a physical barrier to prevent birds from landing in toxic tailing ponds or other water collection sites. The netting is stretched over these areas to prevent bird deaths. Installing pond netting will not only protect birds, but will also prevent the hefty fines associated with migratory bird deaths. (more…)

… and we have some exciting new products that will be featured at the show!

Visit Us At Booth 500!

New Products!

New Catalog!

Product Demonstrations!

Chance to Win a Bird-B-Gone Installer Kit!

Pest World, the annual pest control expo put on by the National Pest Management Association is set for October 19-22nd in New Orleans LA.

It’s one of our favorite times of year because we place high value on the personal relationships we build with our customers. Getting to shake hands with and having face to face conversations with our loyal and new customers is always exciting and gives us motivation for the year to come.

This year Bird-B-Gone will be announcing 5 NEW BIRD CONTROL PRODUCTS!

Make sure to visit us at booth 500 for product information and demonstrations, catalogs and to enter for a chance to win a Bird-B-Gone Installer kit. The Bird-B-Gone Installer Kit is a heavy duty portable tool box that includes all the tools and hardware needed to start a successful bird control business.

You can reach us at 1-800-392-6915 or email nobirds@birdbgone.com if you have any questions or would like to reach us before the show.

About: Dr. Rob Fergus is an ornithologist who specializes in urban ecology and human/wildlife interactions. Dr. Fergus received his Ph.D. in urban bird conservation from the University of Texas at Austin. After founding the Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory in Austin, Texas he created additional bird conservation programs in Austin as the first executive director of the Travis Audubon Society. From 2004 to 2009 he was the Senior Scientist for Urban Bird Conservation at the National Audubon Society. Dr. Rob has teamed up with Bird-B-Gone to help answer pest bird questions closing the gap between the science of nature, and the nature of bird control.

Lets face it, most of us like to have birds around, but we have a problem with their droppings. The major complaint about bird droppings involve unsightly or smelly messes, concerns about property damage, as well as potential health risks.

Unsightly or Smelly Messes

Most of the time this is the real problem with bird droppings—we just don’t want to see them. While that is certainly understandable, birds are part of our natural environment so we shouldn’t be too upset about the occasional bird dropping on our car, house, or patio furniture. Bird droppings become more of a problem when we create structures like window sills, decks, or utility lines where birds come to sit frequently and do their duty. If bird droppings are accumulating the first thing to look at is how to alter the landscape so that the birds can’t physically come and sit where they are making the mess. This may be done with architectural or structural modifications to a building or other structure, or by installing bird spikes or some other physical deterrents to keep the birds from being able to land where they want to sit.

Property Damage

More rarely accumulations of bird droppings may cause actual structural damage to buildings, bridges, machinery, and automobiles. Bird droppings are acidic, which may cause some damage, but for automobiles the greater damage is done when car finishes expand in the sun and then contract around the dried bird dropping. When birds eat berries, their droppings may stain paint, wood, or stucco. To avoid property damage, wash bird droppings from any surface you want to protect as soon as possible. Use a hose with a spray nozzle or a wet rag. If the dropping has hardened, soak it with a wet rag or paper towel for ten minutes to soften it before rinsing or wiping it off. You may want to use a household cleaner or a detergent formulated specifically for killing disease organisms associated with bird mess cleanups such as the Microcide SQ Disinfectant.

Potential Health Risks

Bird droppings may carry dozens of disease organisms that can be transmitted to people. Risk to most people is usually small, but may be greater for young people, old people, and those with compromised immune systems. It is always better to avoid contact with bird droppings when possible, and to clean up thoroughly following the general cleanup procedures outlined by the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management. The following are the two main diseases that people may get from contact with bird droppings, usually after close contact with large accumulations of droppings and mostly from breathing in fungus that grows on the droppings:

Histoplasmosis is a disease caused by a contact with or inhalation of a fungus (Histoplasma capsulatum) which grows on bird and bat droppings. Many people are infected without developing symptoms, but the very young and old, and those with compromised immune systems are at increased risk of developing severe infections. Avoid areas with accumulations of bird droppings and if you have to clean up such a site, follow the directions in Histoplasmosis-Protecting Workers at Risk. For more information see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Cryptococcosis is another fungal disease contracted mostly by breathing in the fungal cells of Cryptococcus neoformans growing on bird droppings. Sometimes the disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms, while other times it spreads to the nervous system causing cryptococcal meningitis. For more information see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Other Diseases that may be transmitted from birds to humans through droppings include:

If you have concerns about possible exposure to these diseases, please contact your doctor or a health care professional. For more specific information about bird control products to keep birds from landing and making a mess on your building or other structure, check out physical deterrents that might work in your situation, submit a specific question to nobirds@birdbgone.com, or call a Bird-B-Gone bird control specialist toll free at 800-392-6915.

Written By: MARK RANZENBERGER, Morning Sun (Mount Pleasant)

Published 08:41 a.m., Monday, June 6, 2011

UNION TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — It’s a dirty job, but later this summer, a crew of steeplejacks will help Isabella County’s Union Township deal with the unintended consequences of the mobile communications revolution.

The crew from Fedewa Inc. of Nashville, Mich., will climb atop the township’s water tower at Broadway Road and U.S. 127 with high-intensity power washers. That tower, located strategically along the freeway near Mount Pleasant, is valuable “vertical real estate” for mobile communications providers, and a forest of antennas sits atop of water tower’s bell.

Those antennas are great places for birds to roost. They’ve also left behind substantial signs that they’ve been there in the form of, um, organic material, according to township Public Works Coordinator Kim Smith.

“We should clean there every three to five years,” Smith said.

Five years’ worth of bird droppings can start to damage the paint on the water towers, Smith said. Painting a water tower isn’t cheap; typically, it might cost $100,000.

Bird-B-Gone employees, friends and family members including Owner Julie Donoho work to package food for children in Haiti

Mission Viejo, CA: Bird-B-Gone, Inc, leading manufacturer of professional bird control products, recently teamed up with Children of the Nations (A non-profit organization that provides holistic care to orphaned and destitute children across the globe) to help fund the building of new orphanages in Liberia and Sierra Leon. Visit our blog “Bird-B-Gone Gives Back” for details and updates.
Saturday May 7th Children of the Nations held a food packing event in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA where Bird-B-Gone employees and family members came out to volunteer and show support.

The event was designed to invite community members out to volunteer in assembly line packaging of dried foods to send to children in Haiti. By the end of the day, 82,000 meals were packaged. The event made local news “Volunteers assemble food bags for hungry children”(OC Register) and was quite a success!
At Bird-B-Gone, our motto is “It’s more than just bird control, it’s faith family friends” and we don’t just say it – we live it!
Bird-B-Gone Owner Julie Donoho had a great time connecting with the community and giving time for a good cause:
“It was a pleasure to join in the Children of the Nations Meal Packaging event and see all the other volunteers. This event is done nationwide and gives people of all ages a chance to “give back” by packaging thousands of meals for the hungry in Africa, Dominican Republic, and Haiti. I was proud to see our Bird-B-Gone family come out on a Saturday and join in the cause. These events are organized, fun, and a chance for groups like churches, schools, and other organizations to come together for a great cause. And, I even think Bird-B-Gone might have had the youngest participant, 18 month old Gianluca Perry!”

Like everything else you own or manage, buildings require regular maintenance to keep them from deteriorating. Regardless of the size of your building, certain specific tasks must be performed to ensure heating, cooling, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are operating properly and continue to meet health and safety codes. Bird proofing can prevent droppings, nests and other and other bird debris from damaging these important systems–systems that can be very costly to repair or replace.

Likewise, a building’s plumbing systems, drains, drinking fountains, sprinkler systems and the timers that control them must be kept free of bird droppings and other debris to function properly. The same holds true for outdoor walkways, tables and chairs used by employees. Bird proofing will keep disease-carrying droppings from contaminating these areas. They can also prevent costly litigation should someone slip and fall on bird droppings.

Exterior lighting and security cameras must be kept clear and fully functional to ensure the safety of visitors and employees. Bird droppings and nests can obscure and render these systems inoperative unless bird-proofing devices are installed. Similarly, exterior locks, doors and windows can jam up, leaving gaps in a building’s security and resulting in the need for expensive repairs.

Finally, roofs, exterior facades and signage can be seriously damaged by pest-bird droppings and nesting materials. Roofs, especially, can be prohibitively expensive to repair or replace. The acid in bird droppings can quickly eat into painted signs and plastic, ruin expensive entry monuments and artwork, and crumble stone facades. All the more reason to invest in bird proofing before damage occurs.

Today’s bird proofing solutions are humane and highly effective. Poisons and shotguns are out, scientifically designed bird deterrents are in. These are easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Most are visually unobtrusive and balance aesthetics with function.

As an effective bird-proofing device, few deterrents come close to the Bird Spike. Birds have one heck of time trying to land anywhere near them. That’s because the menacing-looking spikes really intimidate most birds. The spikes come in stainless steel or rigid unbreakable polycarbonate. And while they look like they would impale a bird, the blunted spikes are harmless to birds or maintenance crews. Bird spikes can be used to deter a wide range of birds and work quite effectively on rooftops, signs, building ledges and other outdoor areas.

For smaller nooks crannies, there’s the Bird Spider. Like the bird spike, it keeps pest birds from landing and nesting. While bird spikes are motionless, a spider’s arms whip around in the breeze to catch a pest bird’s eye. Spiders come in different sizes (different length spider arms) to deter different bird species.